Planning progresses for key freight rail upgrades for Westport development

Works to support the development of the future Westport container terminal in Kwinana are progressing, with planning and preparatory work now underway for key freight rail upgrades and a new grade separation.

A consortium comprised of engineering firms Arup Australia Projects Pty Ltd and WSP Australia Pty Ltd has been appointed to undertake the work, in partnership with Main Roads WA and the Public Transport Authority.

Planning and project development work to be carried out will be for:

• A new freight rail connection to link the future Westport container terminal to the existing rail network east of Rockingham Road
• Duplication of an approximately eight-kilometre section of track on the freight rail line between Kwinana and Cockburn near Beeliar Drive, including removing the existing rail level crossings, as well as duplication of a short section of single track in Kewdale
• A North Lake Road Grade Separation replacing the existing North Lake Road rail level crossing in South Lake with a new bridge

“Building a new container port in Kwinana is critical to securing our State’s long-term trade future, generating thousands of local jobs and strengthening Western Australia’s economy.

“These upgrades will help future-proof our State’s freight rail network ready for Westport, so we can move more containers off our roads and onto rail.

“This will not only make Western Australia’s supply chains more efficient but will help ease congestion and improve safety for the community using the surrounding road network,” WA Transport and Major Infrastructure Minister Rita Saffioti said.

Westport rail infrastructure upgrades map (source: Westport)

These improvements are critical to the transition of container operations from Fremantle to the future Westport container terminal in Kwinana, which will be supported by an integrated freight network – including road and rail infrastructure.

Upgrades to key sections of the existing freight rail network will be required as freight demand continues to grow. Not only will these works support future container volumes, but they will also help improve network capacity, resilience, and operational flexibility.

Planning and preparation activities will include developing a project reference design, geotechnical and environmental site investigations as well as progressing regulatory approvals to allow construction to begin once funding has been allocated.

Community consultation will start later this year to help shape the project’s design.

The Australian and Western Australian Governments have jointly committed $67 million to progress planning and development for the upgrade of roads, freight duplication and level crossing removals that will facilitate the Westport program into the future.

“Upgrading freight rail infrastructure is a long-term solution to meeting Western Australia’s future freight demand while supporting safer and less congested roads.

“Encouraging more containers off our roads and onto rail is key to making the entire container supply chain safer and more efficient.

“These planning works are vital to boosting rail’s share of container movements once the new port terminal opens, so I am pleased to see them moving ahead,” Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said.

Source: Government of Western Australia – Media Statements; Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; Westport